FlexShares announces liquidation of FlexShares International Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 03 2025
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Should l Buy NTRS?
Liquidation Announcement: Northern Trust’s FlexShares has announced the liquidation and termination of the FlexShares International Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (IQDE), with the process expected to be completed by January 21, 2025.
Order Discontinuation: The Fund will stop accepting orders for the purchase of creation units after 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on January 17, 2025, prior to its closure.
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Analyst Views on NTRS
Wall Street analysts forecast NTRS stock price to fall
11 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
8 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 165.390
Low
97.50
Averages
108.65
High
128.00
Current: 165.390
Low
97.50
Averages
108.65
High
128.00
About NTRS
Northern Trust Corporation is a provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. The Company’s segments include Asset Servicing and Wealth Management. Asset Servicing is a global provider of asset servicing and related services to corporate and public retirement funds, foundations, endowments, fund managers, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors around the globe. Asset servicing and related services encompass a full range of capabilities, including custody, fund administration, investment operations outsourcing, investment management, investment risk and analytical services, securities lending, and others. Wealth Management provides trust, investment management, custody, and philanthropic services; financial consulting; guardianship and estate administration; family business consulting; family financial education; brokerage services; and others.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.

- Partnership Agreement: Northern Trust has been selected by the Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System (SCERS) to provide a range of asset servicing solutions, including global custody and accounting services, highlighting its strength in the public fund sector.
- Asset Management Scale: SCERS, established in 1941, manages assets totaling $15 billion, and Northern Trust's advanced technology and client service model will assist in optimizing asset management and the delivery of retirement benefits.
- Integrated Financial Reporting: Northern Trust will deliver integrated financial reporting and accounting services designed to streamline quarterly reporting and year-end processes, including the production of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), thereby enhancing SCERS's operational efficiency.
- Long-term Commitment: With decades of experience serving global asset owners, Northern Trust is dedicated to helping clients maximize investment returns through technology-enabled solutions and dedicated client service teams, supporting their communities and stakeholders.
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- Capability Expansion: Northern Trust announces an enhancement of structured workflows for Investment Operations Outsourcing (IOO) clients through collaboration with Saphyre, improving transparency and efficiency in account lifecycle management, which is expected to significantly enhance client service outcomes.
- Intelligent Automation: By implementing intelligent automation and exception management, manual efforts and operational risks are reduced, enabling clients to execute time-sensitive events more quickly, thereby improving overall operational efficiency.
- Data Consistency: A centralized workflow ensures data consistency across stakeholders, strengthening operational governance and auditability for complex account changes and transitions, further enhancing the company's position in operational excellence within the industry.
- Market Demand Response: This expansion reflects growing client demand for automation at every major transition point, as Northern Trust, in collaboration with Saphyre, aims to eliminate unnecessary friction in middle-office operations, thereby enhancing client confidence and scalability in management.
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- Earnings Beat: Northern Trust reported an adjusted EPS of $2.71 for Q1, surpassing market expectations and demonstrating the company's robust profitability in the current economic climate.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved sales of $2.206 billion in Q1, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year, reflecting ongoing business expansion and strong market demand.
- Analyst Target Upgrades: Following the strong performance, analysts have raised their price targets for Northern Trust, further bolstering market confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
- Stock Performance: After the earnings release, Northern Trust's stock closed at $171.74, indicating a positive investor response to the company's outlook, which may drive future investment inflows.
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Northern Trust Update: Barclays has raised the price target for Northern Trust shares from $160 to $176.
Market Implications: This adjustment reflects Barclays' positive outlook on Northern Trust's performance and potential growth in the financial sector.
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- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Northern Trust has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 1.86% reflects the company's attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially drawing increased investor interest.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on July 1, with a record date of June 5 and an ex-dividend date also on June 5, ensuring shareholders receive their returns promptly.
- Future Growth Outlook: Northern Trust forecasts mid- to high single-digit growth in net interest income for 2026 while targeting a 25% increase in alternatives fundraising, demonstrating confidence in future business expansion.
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- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.13%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also declined by 0.13%, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a slight increase of 0.02%, reflecting market volatility influenced by oil price rebounds and economic data.
- Strong Economic Data: March retail sales rose by 1.7% month-over-month, exceeding expectations of 1.4%, marking the largest increase in a year, indicating robust consumer spending that may support stock prices.
- Oil Price Recovery: WTI crude oil prices rebounded by over 2% as market speculation intensified regarding Iran's participation in upcoming peace talks, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis.
- Impressive Earnings Reports: UnitedHealth Group reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $9.23, significantly above the consensus of $6.57, leading to a stock price increase of over 7% and raising its full-year earnings forecast, showcasing strong performance in the health insurance sector.
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